Device fok turning trays



S. L. WALKER.

DEVICE FOR TURNING TRAYS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1919.

1,310,379. Patented July 15, 1919.

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Tm: COLUMBIA PLANnonAPn co., WASHINGTON, D. c;

SAMUEL L. WALKER, F CORCOR-AN, CALIFORNIA.

DEVICE FOR TURNING TRAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

Application filed March 13, 1919. Serial No. 282,318.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL L. WA KER, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of the town of Corcoran, in the county of Kings, State of California, have invented a new and useful Device for Turning Trays, of which the following is a specification.

It is well known that in some localities large quantities of fruits are dehydrated or dried in the sun and the drying is usually done on trays of uniform size, and when the fruit has been partially dried on one side it is turned to be dried on the other. This has heretofore been accomplished by laying a duplicate empty tray over the tray containing the fruit and a man on each side grasps the two trays, clamping them together with their hands, and when the tray is turned the fruit is all upset on the new tray, after which the tray which theretofore contained the fruit is removed and carried to the next tray where the same act is repeated.

The object of my invention is to provide a device with which one man can perform the same work as easily as two perform it under present conditions. This device is hereinafter described and illustrated on the following drawing in which Figure 1 is a picture of a board tray. Fig. 2 is a side view of the device complete containing two trays between automatic clamps. Fig. 3 is an en= larged view of a aw of the automatic clamp, showing a portion of the frame. Fig. 4 is a front view of a jaw of one of the automatic clamps, and Fig. 5 is a side view of a portion of the frame showing a slot therein.

In the said drawing in Fig. 1 the tray consists of a plurality of boards 2 which are clamped together between base strips 3 and upper cleats 4 which are nailed together with the ends of the boards 2 between them. In Fig. 2 the entire frame is indicated as D. This frame consists of two depending supports 5 and 5 and an adjustable tie in two parts 6 and 6 which connect the depending supports 5 and 5 The parts 6 and 6 are clamped together by means ofbolts 7 The hole through which bolt 7 passes can be elongated so as to permit lateral adjustment of the tie 66 C is an automatic clamp which I have constructed preferably of spring metal. It consists of a fiat back 9 both ends of which are bent at an acute angle forming portion 10 and the ends are further bent forming an acute angle to portion 10, the inward bent portions being denominated 11 on the drawing. This will make an end view of the portions 10 and 11 in an approximate form of a V. These Vs or approximate prisms should be parallel and a spaced distance apart. It will thus be noted that in pressing an object between the VS which will easily enter at the point between the apexes it will be clamped together as it is pressed toward the back 9. Each of the jaws has a hole 19 at the approximate center of the back. Both depend ing supports 5 and 5 have a lateral slot, 5*, therein and in this slot I have fitted a pivot 12 which slides or rotates readily therein. Pivot 12 has a flattened end 13 which passes through hole 19, and jaw O is pivoted on flattened end 13 so as to permit it to have a rocking motion transverse to the line of the apex of the V. 15 is an ordinary round hole through depending support 5, under the slot nary cotter pin which holds the bolt 16 and.

spring 18 in place. The, object of spring 18 is to normally hold back 9 parallel with depending supports 5 and 5 8 is a wedge, or incline, attached to depending supports 5 and 5 a spaced distance above slot 5 so that it will. come in contact with the back of jaw C and when jaw C slides upward the lower part of jaw C is forced nearer support 5 or 5 than the upper portion. It will be noted that one of said jaws O is pivoted on each side of frame D, and on the inside thereof so that the faces oppose each other, The depending supports 5 and 5 are spaced apart sufliciently to permit the traysB to get between the clamps when the lower portions of the jaw are forced apart by wedge 8. By placing an empty tray between the jaws above the pivot in the center thereof and then placing the frame in a position,

pressing the device downward, the lower" end of the jaws of clamps C will spread a art and permit the tray to enter and when t e device is raised the spring 18 will re adjust the clamp in a position to hold the natrays. When in such raised position the trays between the jaws can be swung around with the pivot 12 for the axis so that the fruit on the one tray can be turned on the other when the clamp can be removed. An empty tray should be kept between jaws C on the upper side thereof so that when it is placed over a tray having fruit thereon the fruit will be between the two trays as shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 2 It represents raisins.

I claim as new and ask for Letters Patent upon:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame having two depending supports a spaced distance apart, and a clamp consisting of duplicate jaws, one of which is pivoted near the end of each of said supports, each jaw consisting of a supporting back with opposite ends bent to form a triangle, the apexes of the trii ngles being a spaced distance apart, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame the form of an inverted U having depending supports a spaced distance apart, with longitudinal slots near the end of the supports and a clamp consisting of two jaws, one of which is pivotally attached to each of the depending supports with the face of the jaws opposing each other, each of said jaws being adapted to have a rocking motion on a pivot, said pivot being adapted to have a vertical sliding motion and a rotating motion within the slot, spring means for normally holding the lower portions of the jaws near together when the pivots are at the lower ends of the slots, and wedge means for forcing the lower portions of the jaws apart when the pivots 40 are at the upper ends of the slots.

3. In a device of the character described the combination of a frame having depending supports a spaced distance apart, with slots near the lower ends thereof, and a clamp consisting of two jaws slidingly and rotatingly pivoted within the slots with the faces of the jaws approaching each other, each of said jaws being constructed with a back, and a face consisting of two parallel end, a clamp consisting of two duplicate jaws pivoted in the slot to permit the jaw to have a sliding motion and a rotating motion by means of a cylindrical pivot, said jaws being arranged to have the faces there of opposite to each other, the faces having a channel opening, said jaws being adapted to have a rocking motion on the pivot transversely to the channel, spring means for normally holding the jaws approximately parallel to each other, and wedge means attached to the supports above the slots adapted to force the lower portion of the jaws apart when the frame is pressed downward in re lation to the jaws, substantially as described.

SAMUEL L. WALKER. Witnesses:

CLEO K. Cun'ris, CHAMm BRADLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. v 

